Cigar Monster Prices Recently

[dave]

Agree with above.

In fact, maybe just me, but NC deals have evaporated all over the interwebs. I blame a bunch of things:
-conglomerates and reduced competition
-FDA rules, fears, pending rules, etc.
-Cuban cigars are coming to the US legal market...IDK when, but it is going to happen and I would not be surprised if NC retailers and wholesalers are looking to increase margins out front
-MAP and MSRP; MFR price fixing is affecting the entire NC market, I believe

[mahtofire14]

Originally Posted by dave

Agree with above.

In fact, maybe just me, but NC deals have evaporated all over the interwebs. I blame a bunch of things:
-conglomerates and reduced competition
-FDA rules, fears, pending rules, etc.
-Cuban cigars are coming to the US legal market...IDK when, but it is going to happen and I would not be surprised if NC retailers and wholesalers are looking to increase margins out front
-MAP and MSRP; MFR price fixing is affecting the entire NC market, I believe

[Don Fernando]

Originally Posted by dave

Agree with above.


-Cuban cigars are coming to the US legal market...IDK when, but it is going to happen and I would not be surprised if NC retailers and wholesalers are looking to increase margins out front

Not for a few more years Dave, too many legal issues and not even considering the Trump administration ready to turn the decisions Obama made on Cuba back to a full embargo again.

A few brand names are owned by Altadis, Altadis is also 50% owner of Habanos, those brands won't be an issue but General Cigars owns a few too, including Cohiba. They won't give those up without a fight. Then comes the copyright, for example Sanj's Smoke Shop owns the rights for the Cohiba logo (the yellow with the black & white squares), so that's another legal fight unless he accepts a huge offer from Habanos. Then there is the issue of Cuban tobacco only available to Habanos, that could be considered a monopoly, which is against USA regulations, so another fight/issue. Don't expect Cuban cigars legally on the US market any time soon.

[mahtofire14]

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

Not for a few more years Dave, too many legal issues and not even considering the Trump administration ready to turn the decisions Obama made on Cuba back to a full embargo again.

A few brand names are owned by Altadis, Altadis is also 50% owner of Habanos, those brands won't be an issue but General Cigars owns a few too, including Cohiba. They won't give those up without a fight. Then comes the copyright, for example Sanj's Smoke Shop owns the rights for the Cohiba logo (the yellow with the black & white squares), so that's another legal fight unless he accepts a huge offer from Habanos. Then there is the issue of Cuban tobacco only available to Habanos, that could be considered a monopoly, which is against USA regulations, so another fight/issue. Don't expect Cuban cigars legally on the US market any time soon.

This is a good thing in my mind. All I see is lower quality to meet an incredibly large demand.